Ryan Lochte and 3 Olympic teammates were robbed at gunpoint in Rio
Ryan Lochte and three of his teammates were robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro early Sunday morning, the U.S. swimmer has confirmed.
While the International Olympic Committee initially denied the incident took place, Lochte told NBC News Sunday afternoon that he was one of four swimmers who were held up at gunpoint.
"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte told NBC News. "They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground -- they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so - I'm not getting down on the ground.
"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, get down and I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet - he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."
The U.S. Olympic Committee later issued a statement about the incident, which included the names of the other swimmers involved:
"According to four members of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village. Their taxi was stopped by individuals posting as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities."
The incident was first reported when Lochte's mother, Ileana Lochte, spoke with FOX Sports Australia and USA Today about the ordeal.
Lochte's mother said that her son contacted her immediately after the mugging and told her his wallet had been taken but that no one was harmed.
“I think they’re all shaken up. There were a few of them,” Lochte's mom told USA Today. “They just took their wallets and basically that was it.”
Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira said that he and a group of friends, including, Lochte were celebrating a birthday at Club France on the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon before the taxi was robbed.
Lochte posted videos of himself and teammates in what appears to be a nightclub on Snapchat late Saturday evening.
Lochte competed in two swimming events at the Rio games. The 32-year-old was part of the U.S. men's 4×200-meter freestyle team who took home gold, making it Lochte's sixth Olympic gold medal.
